Guiding device for elevator



July 25, 1967 A. VOSER 3,332,517

GUIDING DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR Filed April '7, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

INVEN T0 R HLBERT vosER July 25, 1967 A. VOSER 3,332,517

GUIDING DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR Filed April '7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

2 %5 IL 2.3 %//E 7 ,.7

I! 1 .f 'fi 8 a 11 12 -INVENTOR ALBERT VOSER Mm Mw United States Patent3,332,517 GUIDING DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR Albert Voser, Ebikon, Lucerne,Switzerland, assignor to Inventio Aktiengesellschaft, Hergiswil,Switzerland Filed Apr. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 540,903

Claims priority, application Switzerland, Apr. 7, 1965,

4,974/65 6 Claims. (Cl. 187-95) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aconstruction for resiliently supporting an elevator cabin on a liftingframe is disclosed. In the single embodiment shown, the elevator cabinis shown within an elevator frame structure on a resilient support whichprovides means for measuring the load of the elevator. In order toaccomplish this, the cabin housing is supported on springs adjacent eachcorner on lateral frame members Which are held within the outer elevatorframe. The frame includes an upper yoke beam which is usually secured tothe carrying cables for the elevator.

In accordance with the invention, the upper portion of the cabin isguided in respect to the vertical members of the frame so that theelevator can move relative to the frame under load on its resilientmountings in a vertical direction only. A connection is provided betweenthe top of the cabin and either the side frame members or the crossframe members of the frame. In the embodiment shown in the drawing theconnection is to the side frame members and is advantageously arrangedon each side of the cabin and comprises a spring steel band which isdisposed in a substantially horizontal plane. The band is centrallyclamped to an element secured to the cabin and it is clamped at eachouter end to an element carried by the frame. The construction is suchthat the spring band will be resilient only in the vertical directionrelative to the band playing and thus it will permit vertical movementupwardly and downwardly in accordance with the weight of the elevator.

Because the band construction prevents horizontal movement, there willbe no one-sided loading and the cabin can move in a vertical directionin the suspension frame. 1

This invention relates in general to elevator construction and inparticular to a new and useful guiding device for the housing of anelevator cabin or car.

In the construction of elevators it is frequently necessary to controlcertain switching operations in dependence on a given load in theelevator. For example, it is customary to render the outside control ofthe elevator ineffective when a predetermined load is present. Also itis customary in collective controls to prevent the operation of certainoutside signals when the maximum permissible load has been reached. Inaddition, the starting and stopping operations of the elevator areperformed in dependence on the load in order to achieve a jolt-freestart and an exact stopping at floor level. For this purpose, the amountof the load has to be measured which is effected by means of a loadmeasuring device which is arranged at the elevator cabin. This deviceconsists of a stepwise or continuously operating load measuring devicewhich is actuated by a movable floor which is resiliently supported atthe cabin housing or by the cabin housing being supported in asuspension frame by means of springs.

A load measuring device has to operate independently of the location ofthe load on the elevator floor. For this purpose, a movable floor issometimes employed which requires an expensive arangement to ensure thatthe floor can only move in parallel planes. By supporting the cabinhousing on springs arranged at ends of suspension frame 3,332,517Patented July 25, 1967 elements, it is possible to accomplish this in aconsiderably simpler manner Which is therefore preferred. The suspensionframe may consist, for example, of a lower crossbeam, two verticalU-beams arranged alongside the respective two opposite sides of anelevator cabin or housing and a yoke beam connecting the vertical beamsabove the housing. The carrying cables are usually secured to the yokebeam. Two supporting angles are secured to the lower crossbeam. Thecabin housing is supported on these supporting angles by means ofsprings. In order to prevent an oblique position of the cabin housing inthe event of one-sided loading, a guiding or control device guides thehousing from above in such a manner that it can move in the suspensionframe in a vertical direction only.

According to a known embodiment of the control device, the two verticalU-beams are constructed as guide rails, the outer sides of the webs andshanks forming guiding surfaces with the web being arranged on the sideof the housing wall and being parallel thereto. Two guide shoes aresecured on the housing ceiling and each shoe will abut against the threeguiding surfaces on one of the two beams. Such a guiding device,however, has the disadvantage that, in the event of a one-sided loadingof the cabin housing, the guide shoes exert a pressure on the guidingsurfaces. This, however, results in a friction force directed oppositeto the load at the cabin housing.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a guidingdevice for the elevator housing or elevator cabin which is supportedwithin a frame'on springs to permit its relative vertical displacementin respect to the frame, and which also includes a connection betweenthe top of the housing and either the side frame members or the crossframe members. The connection forms a guiding device for the elevatorand it comprises a spring steel band which is arranged outside the cabinand disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, with either one of thehousing member or the frame member being secured to the two 'ends of theband and the other of the members being secured intermediate the lengthof the band. The construction is such that the spring band will beresilient only in the vertical direction relative to the band plane. Itwill permit vertical movement upwardly and downwardly in accordance withthe weight of the elevator. Because the band construction preventshorizontal movement, there will be no one-sided loading, and the housingcan only move in a vertical direction in the suspension frame. Even inthe event that the elevator is loaded from one side to a great extent,no frictional forces will be present in the guiding device which wouldrender measurement of the load inaccurate.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anelevator cabin guiding device permitting slight vertical movement of thecabin with respect to its associated frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevator mountingarrangement which includes a supporting frame having cross angle memberswith springs for supporting an elevator cabin and with guiding meanspermitting controlled vertical movement projecting adjacent the top ofthe elevator and secured between the cabin and the frame which includesa flat band member which is resiliently connected at its outer ends toone of either the frame or the cabin and centrally to the other of theframe and the cabin.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guiding device for thehousing of an elevator cabin which is simple in design, rugged inconstruction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which there isillustrated and descirbed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator constructed in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the top of an elevatorcabin and its associated frame; and

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the guiding device indicated inFIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied thereincomprises an elevator housing or cabin generally designated 1 which iscentered within a carrier or suspension frame generally designated 2.The housing 1 is of generally rectangular configuration and consists ofwalls 1.1, floor 1.2, and ceiling 1.3. The suspension frame 2 comprisestwo lower cross beams 2.1, 2.1 at the bottom, two yoke beams 2.2, 2.2 atthe top and two vertical U-beams 2.3, 2.3, the latter two being arrangedat respective opposite sides of the housing 1. Two supporting angles 3.3are secured at respective opposite ends of the lower crossbeams 2.1 andsupport the housing or cabin 1 crossways at the frame 2, with the floor1.2 thereof movably supported on the supporting angles by means ofcompression springs 4 which are arranged at the four corners. The top ofthe housing is held by means of guiding devices generally indicated 5 inFIG. 1 which engage between the ceiling 1.3 and the frame 2. In theembodiment illustrated, they are indicated as being connected torespective vertical U-beam members 2.3 and 2.3.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control device or guiding device 5comprises a spring band generally designated 6 which is clamped at itsboth ends 6.1, 6.1 to the suspension frame 2 at the location of avertical U-beam 2.3. For this purpose, at each side of the verticalU-beam 2.3 an angle iron 7 is secured such as by welding. The band isclamped between clamping jaws 8, 8 which are engaged over a threadedbolt member 9 which also penetrates through an opening (not shown)defined in the band 6. Nut 10 i tightened on the threaded member 9 inorder to cause the clamping jaw elements 8, S to be brought into tightbearing engagement with the band 6.

A similar construction is provided in respect to a threaded pin or boltmember 11 which is secured at its one end to the roof 1.3 of theelevator and is provided with an upper threaded end having a nut 13located above and below clamping plate or jaw members 12, 12 which bearon opposite sides of the band 6. After the lower nut 13 is positioned atthe desired elevation, the upper nut is tightened down by threading iton the bolt member 11 until it causes the jaw members 12 to tightly bearagainst opposite sides 0 fthe band 6. The outer or opposite end of theband 6 is secured in position to the other angle iron 7 in a mannersimilar to the first angle iron.

Spring band 6 is resilient only in a vertical direction relative to theband plane. Thus, it permits only vertical movement of the thread pin 11and prevents any horizontal movement of the thread pin 11. Therefore,even in the event of a one-sided loading, the housing 1 can only move ina vertical direction in the suspension frame. The particular advantage,however, of this manner of securing a spring band 6 resides in the factthat even in the event of one-sided loading, no friction forces will bepresent which would otherwise render measuring of the loadinginaccurate.

In some instances it is preferable to secure the band 6 between thecabin 1 and the two yoke beams 2.2. In such instances, a band connectionmay advantageously be made adjacent each end of the yoke beams or itwould even be possible to provide a single band at the center. Theconnection, of course, may also be made from a location below theceiling 1.3 at one of the side walls 1.1. With such a construction, anauxiliary framing would have to be made in order to support the band ina horizontal plane. The housing 1 may be secured to the ends of theband, if desired, and the frame member may be secured centrally, or theconstruction may be as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understod that the invention may be embodiedotherwie without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A guiding device for an elevator comprising a supporting frame, anelevator cabin located within said frame, means supporting said cabinresiliently within said frame, and a guiding device connected betweensaid frame and the upper portion of said cabin comprising at least onespring steel band disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, saidband being secured to said supporting frame and to said cabin by acentral securement intermediate the length of said band to one of saidsupporting frame and said cabin and by a securement adjacent each of theends of said band to the other of said supporting frame and said cabin.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cabin is connectedcentrally to said band, said band being connected adjacent itsrespective ends to said frame.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said band is connected to avertical member of said frame.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection of said bandto said frame includes a bolt member, said band having an openingthrough which said bolt member extends, a clamping plate engaging saidband on each side thereof and being carried on said bolt member, andthreaded nut members on said bolt member for tightening said clampingplates on each side of said band.

5. A device acording to claim 4, wherein said bolt member is carried onthe roof of said cabin.

6. A device according to claim 5, including an angle iron on each sideof a vertical side member of said frame, said bolt member extendingthrough said angle irons and securing each end of said band to saidframe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1943 Sahlin 18795 1/1943Kiesling 18795

1. A GUIDING DEVICE FOR AN ELEVATOR COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME, ANELEVATOR CABIN LOCATED WITHIN SAID FRAME, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CABINRESILIENTLY WITHIN SAID FRAME, AND A GUIDING DEVICE CONNECTED BETWEENSAID FRAME AND THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CABIN COMPRISING AT LEAST ONESPRING STEEL BAND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, SAIDBAND BEING SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING FRAME AND TO SAID CABIN BY ACENTRAL SECUREMENT INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH OF SAID BAND TO ONE OF SAIDSUPPORTING FRAME